Ponds Forge

History

Ponds Forge was opened in 1991 ahead of the 1991 Summer Universiade, which the facility was a host venue.

The 1993 European Swimming Championships were held at the pool. During the event Karoly Guttler of Hungary went 1.00.95 in the heats of the Mens 100m Breast stroke to set a new world record. As of October 20215 it has been the only Long Course world record set at Ponds Forge.

In the 1994 UK Sports Design Awards, Ponds Forge won British Steel award for the best use of steel in construction, and was highly commented in the overall category.

In the 2000s Ponds Forge was a venue for Channel 4's, The Games, in which celebrities competed against each other in a wide range of events.

Facilities

Olympic-sized swimming pool

The swimming pool hosted the 1993 Men's European Water Polo Championship (part of the 1993 European Aquatics Championships). It has also hosted the 2006 Underwater Hockey World Championships, in addition to the junior world championships in 2019. The pool is also used for the national underwater hockey competitions run by the British Octopush Association.

Diving pool

Ponds Forge has Europe's deepest diving pool at 5.85 metres. This pool hosted the FINA World Diving Series Championships in April 2011 and was home to USA Diving Squad for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is also home to the City of Sheffield Water Polo Club, a first division water polo team.

Surf City leisure pool

Surf City leisure pool includeds a 25 metre lane pool, a lazy river that goes around the outside of the pool, slides, a smaller and shallower children's with, a sensory wall, fountains, and a mini slide, and a leisure pod for disabled swimmers equipped with a disabled hoist.

Gym

The 140-piece gym was refurbished in 2008.

Sports hall

The 10-court sports hall can facilitate badminton, table tennis, netball, volleyball, basketball, and indoor football.

References

References

1. "Ponds Forge International Sports Centre".
2. (2 August 1994). "Architecture: The winner is ... the stadium – The new UK Sports Design Awards have caused controversy, but can only be beneficial, says Simon Inglis". The Independent.
3. (9 September 2003). "Games' TV show going belly-up". The Star.
4. (23 March 2005). "On your marks for The Games". The Star.
5. "Men Water Polo European Championship 1993 Sheffield (GBR) – 31.07–08.08 Winner Italy".
6. (17 December 2005). "New sport is not out of its depth". BBC Sport.
7. "Sheffield to play host to Underwater Hockey World Championship". The Star.
8. "City of Sheffield Snow Frills – 1st & 2nd December – Ponds Forge". Portland S. C. Nottingham.
9. (16 April 2011). "Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield take gold in the 10 metre synchro at FINA World Series event in Sheffield". The Telegraph.
10. (14 February 2012). "Lane closed – the US Olympic diving team is over here already". The Independent.
11. "Surf City Leisure Pool".
12. (6 January 2024). "Surf City leisure pool re-opens at Ponds Forge".
13. (26 June 2008). "Gym re-development completed {{!}} TheBusinessDesk.com".